'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes'

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes  (PG-13)  (3 stars)

Writers: Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa and Pierre Boulle
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, Bryan Cox, Tom Felton, John Lithgow, Tyler Labine

There is something unique and deep going on in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" for a simple action movie. This is a huge upgrade on the very dissapointing and horrible Tim Burton remake. The deep part of this movie is due to a very special performance by Andy Serkis and some seamless effects. This is a great movie to look at and it has what I crave from most action movies and don't get lately, simple, effective action I can follow.

This is sort of a prequel to the 1968 "Planet of the Apes" which is a decent movie but not one of my favorites. I like this movie much better and I hope they follow it with another after film. Simply put James Franco plays Will Rodman who is experimenting with a drug that he thinks can cure Alzheimers which is afflicting his father. He experiments the drug on a chimpanzee he names Ceasar. Will grows attached to Caesar as the chimp acts more and more human after using the drug. As the trial goes all wrong Ceasar is locked up with other chimps in a zoo like facility.

Ceasar is a combination of CGI effects and a wonderful and expressive performance by Andy Serkis who played Gollum in the over rated "Lord of the Rings" movies. Serkis as Gollum was the best part of that trilogy and Serkis does a commendable job of giving Ceasar human emotions and some great facial reactions. It is a brilliant performance even more so for what Serkis had to go through.

"Rise" has a great build up setting up the story and making us feel for Caesar. Then the movie lets loose with the chimps escaping out in the open and being shot at. There is some great action and we can follow everything. The other performances are fine but this is not a movie that is going to show off James Franco's acting chops. Also Freida Pinto is gorgeous to look at but what a thankless role she is given. I didn't even know she spoke or existed after awhile. That aside "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is an effective, pure action movie that entertains us. It is mindless, light and over before you know it and I had fun with it.